Although the three so-called great religions have much in common, I think for both Jews and Moslems their religion has a greater immediacy than Christianity does for Christians. Certainly for many Jews when they talk of Abraham and Isaac, it is as if they are discussing close relatives who have recently died. I think most if not all Moslems bitterly resent insults to the Prophet in exactly the same way as they would resent insults to a member of their family. I know there have been instances of extreme offence taken about what Christians view as blasphemy – that Martin Scorsese film, for example, and that talk show opera thing on the television – but generally they just shrug their shoulders and ignore it. While I am far from condoning these acts violence spreading across the Moslem world, I think we actually fail to understand the strength of genuine feeling generated by such things as the Danish cartoons and the American movie trailer.
Recalled for a further appointment after a routine mammogram
